For the month of June, Prime Time Sports Talk will be ranking the top 10 NBA players at each position. These rankings will be solely based on the portion of the season that has been played before the work stoppage and will not include any injured players.
The positions of players were determined from ESPN.com.
Without further ado, let’s examine the league’s best centers this season.
No. 10 | Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Myles Turner is a stud on both ends of the court. He averages 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Turner’s improved three-point shooting stretches the floor and allows him to attack the rim with ease.
No. 9 | Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks
While the New York Knicks are a frowned-upon franchise in the NBA today, they have plenty of talent. Mitchell Robinson is by far their best all-around player. He leads the entire league in field goal percentage (74 percent), and contributes 9.4 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game.
No. 8 | Jonas Valanciunas, Memphis Grizzlies
The trade from the Raptors to the Grizzlies turned out to be beneficial for Jonas Valanciunas. He’s averaging career-highs in rebounds (11.2) and shooting percentage (59 percent). Valanciunas is a tough player who dominates the boards and scores with ease in the paint.
No. 7 | Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors
Another Raptor that benefited from Kawhi Leonard leaving town was Serge Ibaka. His role changed from a shotblocker to a full-blown scorer. He’s averaging career-highs in points (16), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.5), and three-point percentage (40 percent). Ibaka leads the position in three-point shooting and has established himself as one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference.
No. 6 | Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic signed a massive extension with the Magic this past offseason, and so far it appears he was worth the money. He averages 19.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Vucevic is unstoppable in the low post and often controls the rebounds on both ends of the floor.
No. 5 | Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers/Detroit Pistons
Andre Drummond was traded from Detroit to Cleveland at the trade deadline. Despite the change of scenery, he leads the league with 15.2 rebounds per game while adding 17.7 points, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks. Drummond is one of the best defensive players in the league and can dominate inside with his ferocious dunks.
No. 4 | Hassan Whiteside, Portland Trail Blazers
Hassan Whiteside was sent to the Trail Blazers during the offseason and quickly established himself as their best defender. Whiteside leads the league with 3.1 blocks per game, however he is not strictly a defensive player. He also contributes 16.3 points and 14.2 rebounds each game. Damian Lillard might be performing at an MVP-type level but Whiteside is the key to Portlands success.
No. 3 | Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has continued his stellar play this season, helping the Jazz sit comfortably in playoff position. Rudy Gobert is tough to score on in the paint and shoots the ball well offensively. He averages 15.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, and two blocks per game on 70 percent shooting.
No. 2 | Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has battled minor injuries throughout the season, but when he plays, he’s the best player on the court. Embiid scores 23.4 points, grabs 11.8 rebounds, and dishes out 3.1 assists per game. Despite coming in at number two on this list, Embiid is the most dangerous center on this list because every game, he is capable of a 40+ point outburst.
No. 1 | Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic has put together another exceptional campaign. He can pass the ball like a point guard, shoot like a shooting guard, and defend like a center. Jokic truly is the ultimate game changer. He averages 20.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Jokic is an easy choice for number one and should be in the MVP conversation.
Check out our previous rankings: point guards | shooting guards | small forwards | power forwards
